If you describe a situation as fragile, you mean that it is weak or uncertain, and unlikely to be able to resist strong pressure or attack.
[journalism]
...moves that will place added strain on an already fragile economy.
The Prime Minister's fragile government was on the brink of collapse.
His overall condition remained fragile.
Synonyms: unstable, weak, vulnerable, delicate More Synonyms of fragile
fragility (frədʒɪlɪti)uncountable noun
By mid-1988 there were clear indications of the extreme fragility of the right-wingcoalition. [+ of]
Synonyms: vulnerability, weakness, instability, insecurity More Synonyms of fragile
2. adjective
Something that is fragile is easily broken or damaged.
He leaned back in his fragile chair.
fragilityuncountable noun
Older drivers are more likely to be seriously injured because of the fragility oftheir bones. [+ of]
Synonyms: weakness, delicacy, frailty, infirmity More Synonyms of fragile
3. graded adjective
Something that is fragile is very delicate or fine in appearance.
Synonyms: delicate, fine, charming, elegant More Synonyms of fragile
4. graded adjective [usually verb-link ADJECTIVE]
If someone feels fragile, they feel weak, for example because they are ill or have drunk too much alcohol.
He felt irritated and strangely fragile, as if he were recovering from a severe boutof flu.
Synonyms: unwell, poorly [informal], weak, delicate More Synonyms of fragile
More Synonyms of fragile
fragile in British English
(ˈfrædʒaɪl)
adjective
1.
able to be broken easily
2.
in a weakened physical state
3.
delicate; light
a fragile touch
4.
slight; tenuous
a fragile link with the past
Derived forms
fragilely (ˈfragilely)
adverb
fragility (frəˈdʒɪlɪtɪ) or fragileness
noun
Word origin
C17: from Latin fragilis, from frangere to break
fragile in American English
(ˈfrædʒəl; Chiefly British and Canadian ˈfrædʒaɪl)
adjective
1.
easily broken, damaged, or destroyed
2.
physically weak; frail; delicate
3.
tenuous; flimsy
a fragile hope
SYNONYMY NOTE: fragile implies such delicacy of structure as to be easily broken [a fragile china teacup]; frangible adds to this the connotation of liability to being broken because of the use to whichthe thing is put [the handle on this ax seems frangible]; brittle implies such inelasticity as to be easily broken or shattered by pressure or a blow[the bones of the body become brittle with age]; crisp suggests a desirable sort of brittleness, as of fresh celery or soda crackers; , friable is applied to something that is easily crumbled or crushed into powder [friable rock]
OPPOSITES: tough, sturdy
Derived forms
fragility (fraˈgility) (frəˈdʒɪləti)
noun
Word origin
< OFr < L fragilis < frangere, break
Examples of 'fragile' in a sentence
fragile
They're feeling more fragile in terms of their confidence and so we need to keep investing.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
A cull of 100,000 is being planned because they are destroying the fragile ecosystem.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The point was that beauty is fragile.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It fi red the environmental movement and made us all feel more fragile.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The third issue is about damage to a fragile ecosystem.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Unemployment ran high and coalition governments were fragile.
Abshire, David M. Preventing World War III - A Realistic Grand Strategy (1988)
What better way to ease the fragile striker back into action?
The Sun (2016)
His voice remains an instrument of fragile beauty.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
International football is feeling a little fragile.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Some opinion polls suggest that her lead over the ruling conservative coalition is fragile.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
They were uncertain and fragile at the back.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
My fragile ego is in no doubt.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Be warned if you are feeling fragile.
The Sun (2011)
Environmental campaigners fear that drilling could damage the fragile ecosystem.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
She was so weak and fragile.
The Sun (2007)
We come seeking impossibly fragile beauty.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The fragile coalition could soon founder.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Since nature has become more fragile and weak, necessity obliges man to serve it first.
Christianity Today (2000)
But in France they still played with fear going forward and looked fragile at the back.
The Sun (2016)
For a free double dose of fragile beauty, go to bit.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The spark which led to the final destruction of the country's fragile democracy was linked to football.
John Foot Calcio: A History of Italian Football (2006)
We must respect established treaties, agreements and processes without crushing the fragile flower of democracy with a sledgehammer.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In other languages
fragile
British English: fragile /ˈfrædʒaɪl/ ADJECTIVE
If you describe a situation as fragile, you mean that it is weak or uncertain, and unlikely to be able to resist strong pressure or attack.
...the fragile peace agreed this month.
American English: fragile
Arabic: هَشّ
Brazilian Portuguese: frágil
Chinese: 易碎的
Croatian: osjetljiv
Czech: křehký
Danish: skrøbelig
Dutch: broos
European Spanish: frágil
Finnish: särkyvä
French: fragile
German: zerbrechlich
Greek: εύθραυστος
Italian: fragile
Japanese: 壊れやすい
Korean: 깨지기 쉬운
Norwegian: skrøpelig
Polish: delikatny
European Portuguese: frágil
Romanian: delicat
Russian: хрупкий
Latin American Spanish: frágil
Swedish: ömtålig
Thai: เปราะบาง
Turkish: kırılgan
Ukrainian: тендітний
Vietnamese: mỏng manh
All related terms of 'fragile'
fragile ego
Someone's ego is their sense of their own worth . For example, if someone has a large ego , they think they are very important and valuable .
fragile coalition
A coalition is a government consisting of people from two or more political parties.
fragile confidence
If you have confidence , you feel sure about your abilities, qualities, or ideas.
fragile ecosystem
An ecosystem is all the plants and animals that live in a particular area together with the complex relationship that exists between them and their environment .
fragile-X syndrome
an inherited condition characterized by learning disability : affected individuals have an X-chromosome that is easily damaged under certain conditions
Chinese translation of 'fragile'
fragile
(ˈfrædʒaɪl)
adj
[object, structure]易损(損)的 (yìsǔn de)
[economy, peace]薄弱的 (bóruò de)
(= delicate) 纤(纖)巧的 (xiānqiǎo de)
(= unwell)[person]虚(虛)弱的 (xūruò de)
1 (adjective)
Definition
able to be broken or damaged easily
The fragile government was on the brink of collapse.
Synonyms
unstable
a house built on unstable foundations
weak
The animals escaped through a weak spot in the fence.
vulnerable
criminals who prey on the more vulnerable members of our society
delicate
Although the material looks tough, it is very delicate.
uncertain
Students all over the country are facing an uncertain future.
insecure
low-paid, insecure jobs
precarious
Our financial situation had become precarious.
flimsy
The charges were based on flimsy evidence.
2 (adjective)
Definition
able to be broken or damaged easily
Coffee was served to them in cups of fragile china.
Synonyms
fine
weak
delicate
frail
The frail craft rocked as he clambered in.
feeble
brittle
Pine is brittle and breaks easily.
flimsy
a flimsy wooden door
dainty
easily broken
breakable
My parents had a remarkable array of breakable objects.
frangible
Opposites
lasting
,
strong
,
tough
,
flexible
,
reliable
,
hardy
,
robust
,
sturdy
,
durable
,
elastic
,
resilient
3 (adjective)
The haircut emphasised her fragile beauty.
Synonyms
delicate
china with a delicate design
fine
She wears fine jewellery wherever she goes.
charming
elegant
Patricia looked as beautiful and elegant as always.
neat
a small woman with neat features
exquisite
These panels of glazed tiles are exquisite works of art.
graceful
Her movements were so graceful they seemed effortless.
petite
a petite woman who spoke little English
dainty
a pair of the daintiest little kid slippers
4 (adjective)
Definition
in a weakened physical state
He felt irritated and strangely fragile.
Synonyms
unwell
He felt unwell as he was being driven back to his office.
poorly (informal)
I've just phoned Julie and she's still poorly.
weak
I was too weak to move my arms and legs.
delicate
He was a physically delicate child.
crook (Australian, New Zealand, informal)
He admitted to feeling a bit crook.
shaky
Our house will remain on shaky foundations unless the architect sorts out the basement.
frail
feeble
While I was ill I was too feeble to even stand.
sickly
He had been a sickly child.
unsteady
a slightly unsteady item of furniture
infirm
my infirm husband
Additional synonyms
in the sense of breakable
My parents had a remarkable array of breakable objects.